thelerner

VF hope you feel better soon.

I read about humming/Nitrous Oxide connection years ago.  Might be something to it.  Humming moves through our bodies, vibrating tissues.. different tones seem to connect to different places.  Humming, sick or not seems very worthwhile.  

I enjoy guided meditations.  When I was visiting my dad, he and my sister came down w/ Covid.  I was lucky enough not to.  I also listened to this hypnotic often, Unlock Your Life Cold and Flu healing.  Not a miracle cure but I've found it useful.

 https://youtu.be/CK7Y6mTjtrc?si=Mgxt8CDDo85z9Kug

Amazon has a CD for the book, bit expensive at new $41, used $31.  The author also has A Course in High Magick streamable on Sounds True also expensive for $39.  

Haven't read or listened to either.  I've bought books in Kindle form and had my phone read them to me under the Alexa app.  It's not as computerized as it once was, but its a far cry from a good reader.  

7 hours ago, silent thunder said:

My experience has for some two decades now been that what folks refer to as choice is actually conditioned response to stimulus that occurs beneath the threshhold of personality consciousness.

 

After we process the conditioned response, if we analyze it, we then call this making a choice or a demonstration of free will.

 

I do not experience free will or choice in local awareness.

I agree.  Often our unconscious makes the decision and our brains quickly make up excuses to quickly agree.  

Not always and with logic and definitions we can learn our way out of it.   

On 2/10/2024 at 1:27 PM, NaturaNaturans said:

Please share, philosophical porn is the creme de la creme of porn

Well.. it was ad copy..click bait if you will.

Still,

  In a few ways all philosophy is porn.

There were many nights in college I'd fall asleep covered in library books.

addon, for what it's worth, I wrote-

The Dao Bums website (thedaobums.com) circa 2005, continues to do pretty well. With daily conversations on philosophy and life from members all over the world. Diverse mix with a special place for Taoist arts.

This facebook doesn't represent the vitality of the site much.

All reactions:

7Jules Omlor, Gerd Borchgrevink and 5 others



27 minutes ago, snowymountains said:

 

As your tone seems rather suggestive, I wonder have you ever done past lives regressions with someone qualified in doing this ?

 

Do you know if phychotherapists and hypnotherapists consider past lives regressions to be actual past lives, and if not, then why ?

I don't credit past life hypnotic regressions, but I read a persuasive book quite a while ago about children who recalled past lives.  Done by a university professor who had no skin or belief the game, ie not a new ager.  He looked for and found young (<6y.o.) kids in the US who recalled past lives, not under hypnosis, but had memories.  Where he could he tracked down details remembered and they'd often matched up to deceased.  

There were even cases where they remembered what killed them and the kids had marks on their body corresponding to the 'remembered' deceased.  He had many cases in the US and when he went to India from his airport driver to most people he met, most took it for granted, ie it was well known phenomena there.  With US and Indian kids the memories would fade as they got older.

I'm sure there's many similar newer books.  I think its real, yet it may not be simple re-incarnation but some other psychic action at work.  Fascinating though.  Just Googled 'book on kids who remembered past lives' and there are many titles, not sure which one I read a decade or two ago.  

In my fraternity we had one member be the Naysayer.  Their job was to vote against everything.  It was an important position because being like minded friendly people we tended to vote together.  Slowing things down and having a disagree-er kept us from falling into complacency.  

In this day and age pleasant disagreement and polite discussion is quite refreshing.

addon>  I read that an ancient Jewish custom was that if all the judges agreed on a verdict the person would go free because something probably wrong due to groupthink.  I only mention it because I'd never heard of it and the coincidence of reading it so soon after posting a modern interpretation.

7 minutes ago, Elysium said:

Gotta say, as someone who can't find a teacher right at the moment, I am kinda worried.

 

Last thing I want to end up is like OP. Seems like all that energy messed with his head.

 

Or he was messed up to begin with.

 

Is this the fate of all solo practitioners?

I think listening to the wise/dharma lectures are as necessary to the path as meditation, particularly for 'energetic arts'.  Technology has blessed us with podcasts of many wise people from a whole bunch of traditions.  We need to find ones that connect with us, not because they agree with what we already think, but challenge us to be better people.   Imo preferably from an established tradition. 

Left to our devices we can wander into selfishness and extremes.  Particularly if we don't have friends who tell us when we're full of shit. 

1 hour ago, Keith108 said:

Some wise person is purported to have said:

 

Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?

Round and round...

_/|\_

Didn't they add a fourth gate in modern times.. True? Necessary?? Kind??? Approved by my lawyer ????

2 minutes ago, silent thunder said:

Except when you study with him in person and you are skeptical as I am and demand to supply the water,

 

Thanks for writing this.  Too skeptical and we end up wearing the similar blinders as those who are wide eyed believers.

No expert, but I wonder if boosting your testosterone would help.  Lifting weights, start slow and build up to heavier.  More protein, maybe meat, eggs if you're so inclined.  Google it, lots of information out there of various quality on exercise, foods and supplements that will boost the sexual hormone.  

I bet you'll bounce back with less effort than it took to your current state but it will take some time.  

No experience w/ antidepressants and the Golden Flower, other then the standard advice that if things get strange, dark, or hot.. slow down or even consider taking a break (weeks, months) from your practice.  It'll still be there later when you're more centered. 

This is advice I had to take myself doing a practice as benign as Zhan Zhang.  I was doing it facing the afternoon sun for a few weeks and during one session things got strange and hot.  So I backed off. 

Drink a cup water then make steel cut oats- cooked in boiled water w/ peanut butter, flax seed, a little banana and handful of blueberries.  Trying to cook it just al-dente so each nugget is still a little firm.  On really cold days I'll make 2 spit-in-the-eye eggs.  Buttered sprouted wheat toast with a hole in the middle and egg fried there.  And coffee.  

Breakfast is my healthiest meal of the day.  Too often I go out to eat lunch w/ a friend which gets nutritionally haphazard.   Dinner is usually pretty good. 

46 minutes ago, Solo Cultivator said:

@steve is this really all the dao bums have to offer? Praise to the orthodox and pitchforks to the unorthodox?? This cold treatment is really unfair

Forgive us, we shouldn't be overly suspicious.  Sadly there are times both unorthodox and orthodox practices get unfair treatment here.  Though with time and sincerity some can be won over.

Yet progress should take some work.  That tends to be a universal law.  Diligent Intelligent Effort = gains.  Your method is listen and gain great power.  That is frankly suspicious.  Still, if there were people here that I respect who tried it and reported positively I'd try it.  I've literally jumped off cliffs with the scant encouragement, it won't kill you.  

This happened on the bums 10 or 12 years ago.  Kunlun by Max Christenson became big and controversial here.  It had a byline one hour = 1,000 hours of another system.    Which pretty much sets it up in crank territory but some senior members tried and reported good things.  They admitted the adline was exaggerating but that the system was amazing.  

A bunch here tried it, me included.  A 3 day seminar plus off seminar night time hiking the nearby deserts, some of which trying to spot UFOs.  I liked it, Kunlun was a kind of spontaneous chi gung, hit the position and it got you moving.  Many had good experienced, yet many would later drop it.  A few had problems, too much energy.  A noted member here had spiritual problems with 'visitors'.  I never had too much affect though I'm glad I learned it.  There were other variations that seemed less.. channeling.

Anyhow, my point is.. huuh, I don't think I have a point.  carry on.  

One piece of advice is instead of looking for the bright shiny and foreign, look around at what's offered close by.  Meditation, tai chi, sufi, yoga, martial arts.. find out what's offered relatively close to you and observe a class.  Watch the teacher, talk to them after class, watch the students they are what you'll become if you choose to join.  

A great teacher who's close you can learn from, is worth more than a practice done far away you'd have to learn from a book.  Basics are basics.  Start.. you'll have a lifetime ahead of you to pick and choose, as you gain experience and fate shows you where to go.  

I read somewhere not to meditate under Weeping Willow trees, that they suck in chi.  Yet I do, and find them calm companions, living waterfalls of green.  I've also read not to meditate between 2 and 4 pm, but I will.  I cross my right knee over my left when sitting in lotus which can be a no no for men.  But it feels more comfortable that way.

Perhaps for someone of my low level it doesn't matter so much. Or perhaps our beliefs is what makes things so.

Me: 61 Days Won 

Me: 6,534 Hours lost 

8 hours ago, liminal_luke said:

Gilles Marin's Bone Breathing practice recording comes to mind, Audio Downloads | CNTI (chineitsang.com).

This is a nice medical qigong/guided meditation.  Slowly (30 minutes) goes through the skeletal system piece by piece lighting and strengthening bones.  If chi goes where attention goes, then this should be helpful.  Plus little effort, just listen and feel. 

I 

1 minute ago, CityHermit! said:

That sounds pretty cool, that elemental classification makes sense. ..

If you or anyone is interested here's a link- http://abardoncompanion.de/Arch-Info.html

Rawn had many fascinating practices.  His IHVI ADNI chant/canticle is my shower practice and quite powerful.  His Center of Stillness guided meditation is both complex, difficult and rewarding.  http://abardoncompanion.de/CSM-Info.html

Lastly his commentaries on Franz Bardon's magic and hermetics fill in many blanks and make the system much more understandable.  

At night I'll stand still for a few minutes.  Helps clear my head and relax the body.  

A practice I haven't done in for awhile is ZZ while listening to Rawn Clark's Archaeous system.  He uses a vaguely hermetic system to stack the elements on your body.  Legs (and hands) are earth, stomach area water, chest air, head awareness/light.  The lessons are just 15 or so minutes and make standing go by quickly.  Because the hands are part of the earth I'll usually stand in a 'holding balls down' posture.   The Archaeous isn't specifically for standing but I've found it compliment ZZ very well.  

It's also my go to for sitting by pond/lake/stream meditation.  Solid Earth holds water, flexible changing water holds expanding enveloping air, above air is awareness.  

<added It's sorta like becoming the famous Daoist picture where symbols and cosmology make up the sitting man.  

14 hours ago, You Dare?! said:

Senior I wish to embark on a body cultivation path not the spiritual path

I'm no senior, respectfully, imo, it's all connected and they compliment each other.  Plus somethings don't take up much time.  

For me, when I'm in the shower, I chant.  Sacred meanings but also a unique of vibrations that echoes out and echoes within.  Kotodama- sacred sounds.  Speaking of showers if you want to go body cultivation- cold showers.  Release many good chemicals/hormones and build your will power.  Start slow.. from warm to a minute or so of cold, and build up to a few minutes.  

Sitting is re-resetting, in that it is a form of deep relaxation, it's a body cultivation.  Instead of looking at it as spiritual it can be viewed as psychological.  Sitting quietly, you watch your mind.  It can be hard, the noise, the thoughts that seem other.  Control of mind is control of body.. somewhat.  

Cooking.. also excellent cultivation and what I'm doing now.  So please excuse me.  Wild rice w/Chicken soup won't cook itself  

https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/wild-rice-and-orzo-chicken-soup/

3 hours ago, Cadcam said:

In my journey of reflection, I find what sticks most in my memory are my Sins, or the Sins others have committed to me. Good times and bad are distant; moments of suffering and happiness are just temporary shadows, what remains is when I broke different types of law.  And so, I must conclude that the life of Man, as organized by the Creators, is to be lawful and righteous.

As I get older I tend to think The only sin is hurting others unnecessarily.  And it's almost always unnecessary **.  The rest is self hurt or cultural taboos, imo.  

**Could be expanded to not hurting society, but society is still people.  Might add not hurting the environment. 

You have a good moving practice 8 brocades.  

Now look into sitting practice.. energetic focus or still.

Perhaps a sound focus, mantra.. chant..

Hardest of all is making everything a practice. 

Maybe not qi, but flow, a close relative, might make a difference.  Starting the cutting motion from your center, transmitting the force through your arm, whole body flowing back and forth as you cut.  

On 12/31/2023 at 10:21 AM, liminal_luke said:

 

Would any Bums like to join me for a slow read -- one short chapter a day for the entire year -- of War and Peace?  Substacker Simon Haisell will be leading a read-a-long with weekly commentary, just the kind of wildly creative, challenging-but-doable endeavor that I can't resist. 

My wife reads alot of the classics.  Deep classics, like Euclid, Shakespeare, Plato, Aristotle, Kant..

Me, not so much, in many ways she married a Neanderthal or on good days a Bonobo. Years ago I took a speed reading course.  I was able to read WaP in about 35 minutes.  As I recall there was a war in it, than it ended.  That about sums it up.  

Wishes to all for a great 2024.  

What practices, hobbies and routines will you be carrying on in 2024, that make your life better?

I think I'll keep up the cold showers.  For meditation try out more open eye, or rather half eye meditation til they close naturally while keeping a very quiet breath. I want to focus on a few base things. 

To do list- Keep up the kayaking, at least weekly and join an active group.  See more concerts.  Exercise and lose some weight, pick a program and be consistent.  Learn to program.